The Myth Makers

4 episodes

Aired between 16th October 1965 and 6th November 1965

Written by Donald Cotton
Produced by John Wiles
Directed by Michael Leeston-Smith

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises on a arid landscape, where two Grecian warriors: Hector and Achilles fight.  The Doctor, Vicki and Steven observe them for a bit, until the Doctor finally decides to go outside and talk to them, feeling confident that they're not really serious because they are doing more talking than fighting.  Still, to be cautious, he orders Vicki and Steven to remain in the TARDIS.

Hector defies Zeus to come down and stop him from killing Achilles, and as they begin to fight again, the Doctor emerges from the TARDIS.

Hector takes him for a manifestation of Zeus and whilst he's distracted, Achilles runs him through.  The Doctor is angry at the death, but soon gets a handle on where they are.  They've landed outside the gates of Troy, where the armies of Agamemnon are gathered and have laid siege to Troy for the last ten years, all because Menelaus' wife ran off with a Trojan.

Achilles firmly believes the Doctor IS Zeus, and has come to help them defeat the Trojans.  The Doctor plays up to this, and tries to bluff his way back to his "temple" (TARDIS), but before he can succeed, the Greek warrior, Odysseus, turns up and laughs at Achilles' belief, thinking the Doctor nothing more than a Trojan spy, and that Achilles is weak and couldn't possibly have killed Hector in single combat.  Achilles is angry at the insinuations, and asks "Zeus" to forgive them.  Odysseus demands that they should all go back to camp with Hector's body, and find out whether the Doctor really is a god, to which the Doctor has little choice.  As the Doctor is led away, Achilles takes a different route back, saying that Odysseus will pay for his disrespect.

Back in the TARDIS, Steven and Vicki watch the commotion on the scanner.  Steven cautiously decides to change into more appropriate clothes and to follow them over to the camp.

Outside the TARDIS, Trojan soldiers show up and find Hector's helmet on the ground next to the TARDIS.

In the Greek camp, Agamemnon speaks with his brother, Menelaus, about the going of the war.  Menelaus says hes fed up with this siege, having spent the last decade outside the gates, and isn't even bothered that his wife ran off with another man, after all, it wasn't the first time.  Agamemnon is annoyed, saying that this is more about family honour and this seige wouldn't have been necessary if Menelaus had stepped up and killed Paris in a duel.  Looking to put a quick end to it all, Agamemnon decides to try and sort it all out by challenging Hector to single combat on behalf of Menelaus the following day.  At that point, Achilles turns up and proudly announces that he's killed Hector.  Agamemnon is disappointed, but congratulates Achilles.  The Greek warrior accepts the thanks but also tells his general about the disrespectful way that Odysseus has treated the god Zeus.  Agamemnon calls Zeus in,

As on the plain, Odysseus mocks the divinity of the Doctor, especially when he tries to bluff that he possesses supernatural knowledge.  Agamemnon is doubtful, but doesn't want to anger the God's in anyway, and sees the potential in keeping Zeus around to help them defeat the Trojans.  He gets the Doctor to agree to stay under house arrest for a little while, where he will be treated with honour.

As darkness falls, Steven leaves the TARDIS and begins to make his way to the Greek camp, being careful to avoid patrols.

As the Doctor dines with Agamemnon and Menelaus, Odysseus eaves drops outside the tent, only to be interrupted by his weasel of a spy - Cyclops.  The mute spy communicates to  his master that another stranger has arrived in camp from the "temple".  Odysseus thanks Cyclops for the warning and hides near the tent.  Sure enough, he catches Steven as he approaches, greeting him as the god Apollo in jest.  Odysseus naturally believes that Steven is a spy also and takes him to Agamemnon for confession.

Inside the tent, Steven claims he's but a simple traveller and doesn't know the Doctor.  Odysseus calls their bluff and asks the Doctor if there's any reason why Steven shouldn't be put to death.  The Doctor says he doesn't care if the man dies, but as Odysseus goes to kill him, the Doctor commands him to stop.  Odysseus thinks he's triumphed, but the Doctor simply says that he doesn't want to defile Agamemnon's tent.  He commands that Steven be brought to his temple at first light, and be given as a sacrifice to the gods.  There, "Zeus" promises to prove his divinity.

Odysseus agrees, but makes it clear that if no miracle happens, then he will kill the both of them.  At that point, Cyclops turns up again and tells Odysseus that the "temple" has disappeared.

The following day, The Doctor and Steven are taken out to the plains where they find a small insignia from Troy where the TARDIS once stood.  Agamemnon feels like he's been played for a fool and demands that "Zeus" performs his miracle.  The Doctor says that it can only be performed from inside the "temple".  Odysseus laughs, confirming that the temple is in Troy, and therefore means that the Doctor is obviously a Tojan spy.  With no options remaining, the Doctor is forced to confess that he is not Zeus, but he isn't a Trojan either.  Agamemnon doesn't care.  He orders Odysseus to put them both to death and with that, goes back to camp. Odysseus gloats, but is prepared to hear exactly where the travelers did come from.  Sure enough, the Doctor and Steven begin telling him the truth.

Inside the gates of Troy, Paris greets his father, Priam, king of Troy.  He says he's brought him a gift and presents the TARDIS.

Unfortunately, neither Priam, or the high priestess Cassandra (Paris' sister) are taken with the offering.  In fact, Cassandra says she's had a vision of a gift that was meant to be found, and out of it comes Greek soldiers that kill them all in their sleep.  To be sure that this isn't such a ruse, she orders that the TARDIS be covered in oil and burnt as an offering to the gods.  If anyone should be inside, the offering will be all the more worthy.  Inside the TARDIS, Vicki quickly  searches the wardrobe for suitable clothing.

Back on the plains, the Doctor and Steven finish relating their tales of time and space.  Odysseus is furious at first, but comes to see the potential in their help, should they be telling the truth.  He spares their lives, but only on the condition that they will help the Greeks defeat the Trjoans and find a way into the city.  He gives them just two days.  The Doctor and Steven have little choice but to agree.

In Troy, the TARDIS has been prepared for the sacrifice, but Paris protests, saying that the God's should be asked if they want the sacrifice.  Cassandra scowls at her brother, but relents, asking the Gods to send a sign if the TARDIS should be spared.  Vicki takes the opportunity to exit the TARDIS.  Everyone is astounded, especially the lecherous Paris, but Cassandra is doubtful.  She demands to know what pantheon Vicki comes from, but Vicki openly says she's not a god, she's just human but from the future.  Priam seems taken by Vicki, but renames her "Cressida" and agrees to let her live, seeing the potential of the truth, much to Cassandra's chagrin.

Paris tries to chat her up, but Priam scornfully tells him to get back to the front lines and find Achilles to fight in revenge for Hector's death.  Paris obviously doesn't like that prospect, but obeys.

Odysseus takes the Doctor and Steven back to the Greek camp, where they can plot, Steven suggests giving them the idea for the Trojan horse, but the Doctor balks at it, saying it's just a myth and wouldn't work.  When Odysseus checks up on them, the Doctor demands that if they help the Greeks, Odysseus must promise to spare Vicki's life.  Odysseus says that he can't go around the battle asking every woman their name.  Steven proposes to save Vicki himself by going into the city as a Greek prisoner and locating her.  Odysseus gains a grudging respect for Steven and gives him a set of armour.

Steven changes into the armour and heads off out into the plains.  It's not long before he comes across Paris, who is whispering a defiant challenge to Achilles (as he's really a coward and desperately hopes Achilles will not answer).  Steven answers the call and despite Paris trying to talk his way out of it, Steven insists they fight.  They clash swords for a bit, before Steven intentionally trips and yields.

Paris is confused, but Steven begins to say how foolish he was to attack the "Lion of Troy".  He convinces Paris that if he is taken prisoner, he will gladly recount all the fearsome tales of Paris to the king.  Paris see's the added bonus of not hanging around outside, waiting for Achilles, so agrees.

In Troy, Priam discusses the Trojans love of horses with Vicki, a fact that leads her to remember the Torjan horse.  Priam pushes her to reveal the details of it, but she tries to change the subject of saying how sexy his son Troilus is.  Priam anxiously pulls the conversation back to the Trojan horse, and she is about to reveal the details when Paris blunders in, announcing he has a prisoner.  Vicki immediately recognises Steven and blurts out her relief.  Cassandra emerges from the shadows and points out that she obviously knows Steven, who is parading as a Greek soldier, and therefore she must be a Greek spy.  Cassandra orders the guards to kill them both.

As the guards move towards Steven, Paris orders them to sheath their swords.  He berates his sister, reminding her that he is commander of the army, and will not have her ordering them about.  He explains that Steven is called "Diomedes" and should be kept prisoner.  Priam is taken aback by his son's sudden back bone and sides with him, but acknowledges the fact that Vicki recognised Steven as he entered.  He gives "Cressida" just one day to find a way to defeat the Greeks, or else.  They are both taken away to the cells.

Back in the Greek camp, Odysseus is getting impatient.  The Doctor explains a mad capped plan to create gliders and launch them over the city walls with catapults.  Odysseus accepts the plan, but expects the Doctor to test it first.  This takes the wind out of the Doctors sails and he suddenly becomes less enthusiastic about it.

Meanwhile, Steven and Vicki squabble in adjacent cells.  Steven explains the situation going off back at the Greek camp, and the fact that Vicki is now in direct competition with the Doctor.  They are interrupted by Cyclops at the prison window.  Steven asks him to get a message to the Doctor, asking him to delay his invasion plans.  Cyclops nods in agreement and goes off to deliver the message.

Troilus turns up at "Cressida's" cell and flirts with her.

He shows some prejudice tendencies towards "Diomedes" (understandable I guess), but explains that he doesn't really like the fighting and he's tired of the war.  Vicki humours him and encourages him to argue for their release on her behalf.  Troilus agrees but doesn't think it'll do any good.  When he's gone, Steven teases Vicki for her flirting, but encourages her to do it more if it means they can get out of the cells.

Back in the Greek camp, the Doctor has decided that he's changed his mind on the flying machine and tries to back out of it.  Odysseus says its a pity because they've already gone and built the catapults, so unless the Doctor can offer a better plan, he will be launched over the wall without a glider.  Clutching at straws, the Doctor mentions the Trojan Horse.

Again, Odysseus is agreeable and orders the construction of the horse, and once again, says that the Doctor is going to be along with the soldiers inside it.

Out on the plains, Cyclops is making his way back to the Greek camp, but is spotted by Paris and his guards.  They try to question him, but Cyclops turns to run and is killed in the process, ensuring that the Doctor will never receive Stevens warning.

The horse is indeed created, and the Doctor accompanies Odysseus and the soldiers inside it.  They stay on the plain into the night, and the Doctor's nerves get the better of him.  He explains that he's changed his mind and he doesn't think the plan will work, but it's too late, as the Trojans turn up outside.

The following morning, Troilus goes to "Cressida" and announces with joy that all the Greeks have gone and the war is over.  He takes her to Priam in joy.  Priam thanks Vicki's divine intervention, but Cassandra is quick to warn them all that Vicki's dangerous.  Priam ignores her and is even happier when Paris shows up and says he's found the mythical horse of Asia, just lying around outside on the plains.  Priam remarkably sees this as good fortune and allows it to be brought into the city.

Cassandra continues the argument, warning that the horse should not be brought in, and that "Cressida" is a witch and should be killed.  Vicki takes the opportunity to sneak off and free Steven from his cell.  Together they make their way into the city.  King Priam notices that she is gone and sends Paris out to get her.  Cassandra doesn't trust her incompetent brother, and sends her handmaiden, Katarina out to find her also.

Once in the city, Steven and Vicki determine that the Doctor must be inside the horse.  Steven agrees to hide until the attack begins, and warns Vicki that if she really cares for Troilus, she must get him to leave the city before dawn.

With that they split up and Vicki is shortly after captured by Trojan soldiers and brought back to Priam.  Cassandra is very quick to accuse "Cressida" of releasing "Diomedes", a fact that Vicki denies.  Despite everything, Priam decides to let "Cressida" live.  Casandra is forced to accept the term, but stipulates that Katarina must stay with her at all times.

Inside the horse, the Doctor carries on moaning to Odysseus how he hates the plan and doesn't want to kill the Greeks.  He even threatens to leave, but Odysseus just laughs and says that he holds the rope, meaning that the Doctor is looking at a 40ft drop if he wants to leave.  Odysseus seems to enjoy getting a rise out of the Doctor, and even reveals to him that he secretly hopes Achilles and Agamemnon would die in the battle so he gets a bigger share of the conquest.

As night falls, and Katarina falls asleep, Troilus sneaks into the main palace room to see "Cressida".  Vicki seizes the opportunity to convince Troilus to go outside the city walls onto the plain and find the escaped "Diomedes".  Troilus is suspicious and a little jealous, but can see that it's something "Cressida" really wants, so agrees to it.

Shortly after Troilus has left, the horse opens up and the Greeks begin to climb down the rope, making short work of the Trojan sentries.  The Doctor is clearly disturbed by the killing, but Odysseus makes sure he's close by, ready to kill the old man if he tries to betray them.

On the plain, Troilus is calling for "Diomedes", but is met instead by Achilles who has returned with the Greek army to sack the city.  Troilus is willing to fight his brothers murderer, and sure enough defeats Achilles, but is badly wounded in the fight.  He lays on the plain, calling out, asking why "Cressida" has betrayed him.

The gates of Troy are opened and the Greeks begin to sack the city.  Paris, Priam and Cassandra gather in the main hall of the palace in confusion.  Cassandra wails that they should have all listened to her, as Paris tries to barricade the door, but it's no good.  Odysseus and his soldiers break their way in.  With glee, Odysseus kills Priam and Paris, and takes Cassandra to be a plaything for Agamemnon.  In the chaos, the Doctor manages to slip away.

Elsewhere, Vicki manages to convince Katarina to listen to her.  She orders her to go and get Steven from his hiding place.  When Katarina leaves, Vicki finds the Doctor.  She ushers him towards the TARDIS and says that she's got to find Troilus, despite the Doctors insistence that things are going to hell and she may end up dead or worse.  Vicki is clearly upset, but doesn't back down.  She gives the TARDIS a hug and runs off out onto the plains to find Troilus.  The Doctor watches her go.

Meanwhile, Steven is discovered, but it's by a Trojan soldier.  He is forced to fight for his life, and manages to kill the Trojan, but is badly wounded in the shoulder (even though he holds his upper arm).  Katarina finds him bleeding out and helps him back to the TARDIS.  The Doctor orders her inside with him, but before he can join them, Odysseus calls out, claiming the TARDIS as part of his spoils and threatens the Doctor with death if he moves.  The Doctor defiantly says that he's had enough of Odysseus and runs into the TARDIS before they can shoot him with arrows.  To Odysseus' amazement, the TARDIS dematerialises in front of his very eyes.  When it's gone, Odysseus ponders whether the Doctor was Zeus after all.

Out on the plains, Vicki finds Troilus and comforts him.  She explains that "Diomedes" and her friends have left her to go back where they came from, and she chose to stay with him, if he would have her.  Troilus is understandably a bit down, not seeing the point in anything as he watches his city burn and no doubt his family destroyed, but he does recognise that they both feel love for each other so there's a chance.  As a sign, his cousin arrives on the shores with seven ships, and Vicki says happily that they can leave on them and help to build a new Troy.

Things aren't looking so rosy on the TARDIS though.  Steven is burning up a fever, and the handmaiden Katarina has been forced to come along with them.  It's ok though from her point of view.  She thinks she's dead and the TARDIS is a vessel to the afterlife, piloted by a god in the guise of the Doctor.

The Doctor moves away from Steven and Katarina, sparing a concerned thought for Vicki and hoping she's safe.  He then turns his attention to Steven, hoping that the next landing will allow them to get him the right medication, otherwise, things don't look good for the young man.


Trivia

• Maureen O'Brien had supposedly been at odds with the programme from episode 2 of the Rescue, and often criticised her characters dialogue.  As a result, John Wiles saw an opportunity to cut her loose, given that they were effectively re-designing what the show would do.  

• Despite being larger than life as the Doctor, William Hartnell in real life was somewhat of a racist, anti-Semitic bigot.  He didn't get on with Priam at all, which just added to the stress of the clashes he had begun to have with Producer John Wiles.  On top of all that, he wasn't allowed to go to his aunts funeral (who had brought him up as a child).  Things were beginning to get the better of him.

• Not many people knew, but it was around this time that William Hartnell was also diagnosed with osteosclerosis.  John Wiles thought that his line fluffs and foul temper were nothing but a put on (which sometimes could have been true).  But there was little doubt that he was struggling.  His only friends left now were the two other regulars, and out of those, one was due to leave unexpectedly.  

What worked

• The bluff and counter-bluff work well, especially when Steven's life is in danger.

• Some of the Shakespearean dialogue works well

• The model of Troy is a really good one, and fits well with the location shots

• The use of the TARDIS to imply the Trojan horse was a good twist, as it makes you think that they wont pull the trick again.

• The idea of Vicki having to pit her wits against the Doctor is a good idea

• The banter between Vicki and Steven is quite good.  It's a shame they weren't together longer.

• In a 60's children's programme, you would expect the sacking of Troy to be glazed over, but nevertheless, it is the main action sequence of the story and is quite brutal, with Odysseus thrilling at the prospect of killing Trojans and slaughtering the royal family.  It doesn't show what happens to Cassandra, but we can all guess it doesn't end pleasant.

• Katarina's interpretation of her TARDIS journey is novel and a welcome change from the (now) decades of "bigger on the inside" conversations.

What didn't work

• Odysseus is massively hammed up and overacted

• Menelaus is far too posh, (did he come from the same place as the Vikings in the Time Meddler?)

• If you think Menelaus is posh, Paris is positively "Leslie Phillips" from the Carry On films, complete with god-awful jokes about horses

• The bits of comedy interspersed in this story don't add to it (IMO), they very much destroy any tense situation that the plot builds up - very distracting.  In fact, it's just like something out of Monty Python

• Paris is an idiot.  Although plausible, it's more likely that if he had acted like this in real life, he would have met his death long before now

• The Greeks can build a 40ft horse in under a day...really?  Damn right the Doctor should be worried about it falling apart!

• If this is the story of Troy, where is Helen?  It seems odd not to include her.  She must have been off shopping that day.

Overall Feelings

With the departure of Verity Lambert, and the appointment of Donald Tosh as script editor, this is as good an opportunity as John Wiles will ever have to stamp his authority on the show.  This is a statement and a relaunch all rolled into one, setting the tone for the rest of the series yet to come.

Compare this episode with the Aztecs and you'll see the biggest indication of this.  In the Aztecs, we were told categorically that not only should we not mess with time, but that time wouldn't even allow us to anyway.  This fit in with Sidney Newman's wish for the historical episodes to be educational.  Now that John Wiles is behind the driving seat, we've just done a complete 180.  In this story, the Doctor acts as if it's no big deal to pass himself off as a God, tell people he's a time traveler, or give them the Trojan horse idea.  If Barbara could only see him now, she'd have a few choice words to say!

The story itself holds up well, and it's a shame we can't see a lot of the location shots anymore, but from the images on the reconstructions, they seem pretty good, as do the model shots.  The acting is hit and miss, with some taking the Shakespearean dialogue and turning it up to 11, hamming it up as much as they would in The Horns of Nimon.  The comedy bits go overboard too, slapping you in the face with obvious jokes and puns, but when they calm down and just get into it (like when Paris fights Steven), it works a lot better.

The first three episodes all have enough tension in them to keep you interested, and are in a similar vein to the Aztecs, but don't seem to manage the threats as well as they could have been.  Vicki's supposed battle of wills against the Doctor wasn't played up as much as it could have been either, which is a big shame.  Then we get to episode 4.

The story really comes alive in episode 4, and hurtles you out of your comfort zone into a place where things really might not be alright.  This hasn't happened since the Edge of Destruction, and I can imagine that in 1965 it was a bit disconcerting to watch, but it provided a brief moment of excitement, and of exhilaration.  And in the next story, things will get even darker.

Rating

7 out of 10

The location shots and model shots looked good, the sound leave's something to be desired, but the story's tone makes it a compelling watch

Rewatchability Factor

7 out of 10

There's enough in the story to keep you watching through the first three episodes, but it's really episode 4 that springs to life and shows how good this "new" Doctor Who can be.

Watch this if you liked...

• Marco Polo

• The Aztecs

• The Reign of Terror

• The Romans

Consulting the Matrix

Did  you agree with Vicki's love affair with Troilus?  If not, how would you have written her out?

Mission to the Unknown

1 episode

Aired 9th October 1965

Written by Terry Nation
Produced by Verity Lambert
Directed by Derek Martinus

You can watch an incredibly good animated version of the episode here and part 2 of the episode here

Synopsis

An astronaut is lying on the ground, on the jungle planet of Kembel.  He awakes and remembers that he must kill...

Elsewhere on the planet, two other astronauts from the UN Deep Space Force Group 1 (the same outfit at the killer astronaut) are repairing their ship.  The first astronaut, Lowery, is full of scorn to his companion, Cory for landing on the planet as it's a notoriously hostile jungle planet.  Cory makes it clear that he's been placed in charge of the mission.

He goes inside for more tools, and their third crew member, Garvey, turns up saying he must kill and approaches Lowery with a gun.  Out of nowhere, Cory turns up and kills Garvey, retrieving a strange thorn from behind his neck.  Lowery is distraught as Garvey was his co-pilot for the last ten years and Cory just killed him.

Cory explains that Garvey was spiked by a Varga plant, a ruthless biological weapon that converts anyone who gets stuck, into a killing machine that eventually turns into a plant, just like them.  Cory  allows Lowery to collect the dead astronauts personal items, but advises that they get inside the ship to talk.

Once inside, Cory reveals that he's part of the Space Security Service.

He asks what Lowery knows about the Daleks.  Lowery says they invaded Earth a thousand years ago, but were defeated.  Cory explains that the Security Service have discovered that the Daleks are still out there, and have begun to conquer planets in the outer galaxies, but a Dalek saucer has been recently spotted in the Earth's solar system.  Cory was ordered to take this ship and go and find out what the Daleks were up to.  He has been searching the outermost planets, and now that they've discovered the Varga plants, he's convinced they are in the right place.  Lowery asks why he's so sure and Cory reveals that the Varga plant is native only to the planet Skaro, where the Daleks originate.  This means that there must be a Dalek base on Kembel!

Outside the ship, Garvey's body starts to twitch, whilst thorns and hairs push their way out of his skin.

On the said Dalek base, the Dalek Supreme knows that humans have landed on the planet.  It orders that the Daleks go out and destroy them before the delegates from the seven planets arrive for the "conference".

Back at the human ship, Cory speculates that they've blundered into  the middle of things, and that the Daleks will be onto them.  He decides the best course of action is to hide in the jungle and send out a distress signal for nearby ships to intercept and relay back to Earth.  They begin to implement their plan and move outside the ship, and realise that they're now surrounded by Varga plants.

As they discuss their next move, a large ship comes down onto the planet in the distance, and Cory speculates that it's not from any colony in the Earth's solar system.

The astronauts slink away into the jungle, narrowly escaping a Dalek assault team that obliterate their rocket ship.  The men resign themselves to getting on with the mission and run off into the jungle.  Unfortunately, Lowery is too busy looking back to see if the Daleks are pursuing them and runs straight into a Varga plant, impaling his hand on a spike which immediately becomes infected.

Back at the Dalek base, the delegates have arrived, and the Dalek Supreme is keen to get the meeting underway, but one of the delegates is worries that there is a traitor on the planet.

The Dalek Supreme admits that some human forces have landed on the planet, but assures the delegate that they will be dealt with.  The delegates seem satisfied with the assurances and begin discussions, finally agreeing to join together in an evil alliance that will conquer the Earth's solar system, beginning with Earth itself!

Out in the jungle, Lowery is in a bit of a state, desperately trying to suck the poison out of his blood before he turns into a Varga, but it's too late.  Cory returns from scouting ahead and says that he found the Dalek base, and heard their Supreme ruler on the loudspeaker, announcing their evil alliance with the other races and intent to conquer the solar system.  Cory realises that Lowery has been infected by a Varga and doesn't hesitate to kill him.  He grabs the message recorder and distress beacon, and hastily begins recording the message whilst Daleks emerge from the jungle and close in around him.

He is exterminated before he can send the message, and the Daleks are happy that the information will not get out.  They leave the bodies in the jungle along with the recording, and return to the base, triumphant.

Trivia

• As if you couldn't tell by watching it, this story is the only episode of Doctor Who not to feature the Doctor (before you say anything, the Series 3 episode, "Blink" does have the Doctor in it, no, I'm not counting Torchwood or the Sarah Jane Adventures).

• It's also the second time on screen when the Daleks actually win (the second being Victory of the Daleks).  

• This was Verity Lambert's swan song.  From this point, Doctor Who had a new production team in the for of script editor Donald Tosh, and Producer John Wiles.  Wiles and Hartnell's relationship was..explosive at best, and over the next few stories, they would be going head to head to see who the show's real leader was

What worked

• You can't apply it to the episode itself, but the animation on this was really great

• The Varga plants were quite good and scary

• It's brilliant to see the Daleks win for once

What didn't work

• The delegate's costumes!

• The Dalek's seismic detector is back, and now it can pick up on radio signals

Overall Feelings

James Bond in space.  The Doctor is out of this episode, so the production team need someone who can step up to the plate and give us all the information we need, and that's Cory.  But Cory isn't the star here.  This episode exists solely to build up anticipation for the massive Dalek epic coming up in the following month, and so it's real star is... yep, the Daleks!  And this is great for us, because the story is wonderfully dark and gritty.  There's no happy ending to be had here unless you come from Skaro.

The Daleks are allowed to strut their stuff and show just why people should be scared of them.  Even the Varga plants and their terrifying effect on humans can be accredited to the Daleks because they are the ones that introduced them to the planet Kemble.  This is a very bleak and dark story, and if you think that the Doctor will make sure that it's going to get better when the Daleks implement their master plan, you are very much mistaken.

Rating

8 out of 10

The story is lovely and dark, and shows how deadly the Daleks should be.  The plants are genuinely scary, and there's even an orchestral element to the soundtrack.

Rewatchability Factor

4 out of 10

Quite good, but once you've seen it, then you're ok for a good while

Watch this if you liked...

• The Chase

• Planet of the Daleks

Consulting the Matrix 

Should there have been more episodes without the Doctor?  Should they have focused on the Daleks or on other companions?

Galaxy 4

4 episodes
Aired between 11th September 1965 and 2nd October 1965

Written by William Emms
Produced by Verity Lambert
Directed by Derek Martinus


Synopsis

The TARDIS has resumed normal life, with Steven demonstrating this by getting a haircut from Vicki, (whilst inside a moving vehicle - not very smart!).

The Doctor as usual tinkers with the TARDIS controls until it lands on a very desolate planet.  Despite this, Steven is keen to find somewhere to swim.  As they exit the TARDIS, they see a tiny robot made from circular domes.  It has a look around the outside of the TARDIS before it talks in beeps and whistles to another such robot and then scuttles off.  Vicki names them "Chumblies" after the way they seem to move.

The group continue on their exploration, discovering some plant life, and three suns, but are aware that there seems to be no animal or intelligent life anywhere.  A Chumbley returns to them as Steven is preparing to go swimming. He doesn't seem to like it hanging around and goes to aggressively shoe it away.  From beneath its domes, a small, thin cannon appears and obliterates a flower.  It begins pointing in a way to suggest that the crew should follow its direction, which they do.

The Chumbley begins to lead them away, but it is soon disabled by a bunch of similar looking women, who throw a metal mesh over it, cutting off its communication signals.

The women explain that they're called Drahvin's, a race of warlike women from the planet Drahva in Galaxy 4, who suspiciously resemble Fembots (Google Austin Powers if you don't get the reference).  They say that the machine belongs to a rival race called the Rill's who have also come to this planet.  The Drahvin's explain that the Rill's are evil and they will find better hospitality with their leader, Maaga.  At that point, three more Chumblies turn up and force the Drahvin's to flee with the TARDIS crew.  The Chumblies free their counterpart and begin the pursuit, albeit very slowly.

The group are taken to an old battered spaceship, where they meet Maaga (who looks very similar to the rest).  Maaga tells the other Drahvin's off for loosing their net, and dismisses them.

When the group question her, Maaga explains that the Drahvin's are a race of warrior women, who need men only to reproduce.  She says that both races are new to the planet, but the Rill's shot them down here.  Since then, the Rill's have announced that the planet will blow up in fourteen days.  Maaga asks the group to help her capture the Rill ship and escape the planet.

Steven is suspicious of the Drahvin's, and Vicki is downright rude to them, but before the matter can be resolved, the group of Chumblies turn up.  The Drahvin's attack them and drive them away.

The Doctor seems to be suspicious too, but agrees to help Maaga find out if the planet really is going to blow up.  Maaga agrees to their aid, but insists on someone being kept in their camp, obviously so that the Drahvin's are not left to die.  Vicki agrees to be the "hostage", and the Doctor and Steven set off back to the TARDIS.

When they get there, they see another Chumbley trying to break its way through the TARDIS force barrier.  The Doctor and Steven hide until the Chumbley fails and goes away, then go inside the TARDIS themselves.

The Doctor checks his astral map and discovers that the planet hasn't got fourteen days left, it's got two!  They agree to get back to the Drahvin ship, only to find that the Chumblies have returned with heavy explosives.  The machines try to "blow the bl***y' doors off", but fail, and go away again.  The pair take their chance and race back to the Drahvin ship.

Once they get there, Steven points out that the ship is a bit crap, and surely the Chumblies could get through the hull if they wanted.  They keep the information to themselves and try to convince Maaga that the planet will explode in fourteen dawns time.  He urges them to make friends with the Rill's.   Maaga refuses and grows desperate, pulling a gun on them all after they absolutely refuse to help leave the Rill's.  Maaga demands to know for sure if the timescale really is fourteen, forcing the Doctor to reveal the truth of only two dawns remaining.  The Doctor manages to convince Maaga to let him go and try to make peace with the Rills, but she keeps Steven as a hostage this time.

Left under guard by a docile Drahvin, Steven tries to manipulate her into taking Maaga's gun and destroying the Chumblies.  Unfortunately, Maaga overhears his attempts and stops them.  She tries manipulation herself, attempting to get Steven to pilot the TARDIS and take the Drahvin's with him, but he reveals that he can't actually pilot it.

Out in the wasteland, the Doctor and Vicki are forced to hide from a patrol of Chumblies.  Vicki takes the scientific approach of observing-noting-correlating-concluding and then throwing a rock at the machines. The rock lands behind one of them, leading her to believe that the Chumblies can only detect movement in front of them.  Together, they follow the Chumblies back to the Rill ship.   when they get there, they discover that the Rill's have been busy, creating some sort of drilling rig, and an air purifier.  The purifier doesn't seem to work too well though, because it stinks of ammonia.

The Doctor and Vicki head further into the Rill ship until they come across a Chumbley repair workshop.  As they look around, Vicki screams at the sight of a large scaly, tusked creature that appears at the window.

Vicki's scream alerts the Chumblies, who chase her and the Doctor through the Rill ship.  They manage to evade capture for a while, but ultimately, Vicki is trapped by an iron gate.

The Chumblies arrive and take her away, whilst the Doctor tells her to stall for time whilst he breaks the air purifier.

Back at the Drahvin ship, Maaga chastises her soldiers once more as Steven sleeps.  She is frustrated and bangs on about how they're only good for killing things. but she needs to be able to manipulate the Doctor into getting the Rill ship so she can take it from them and leave the Rills and the TARDIS crew on the planet, whilst the Drahvin's can escape.  Little does she know, Steven is only pretending to be asleep and hears the whole thing, but says nothing.

Vicki is herded back into the Rill ship, where she is confronted by the big tusked slug who watches her through a window.  Beside her, the Chumbley begins to speak in an authoritative voice, and explains that it is actually the voice of the Rill (the creature watching her).  The Rill's speak telepathically, and are communicating via the Chumbley.  It begins to question Vicki, and soon explains that they are peaceful race.  They encountered the Drahvins in orbit, and had a standoff for four full days, as they never wanted to attack the Drahvin's, but they couldn't turn their backs.  Eventually, the Rill's relented and tried to leave, but the Drahvin's fired anyway.  The Rills returned fire and they both crashed.  Once they recovered from the crash, the Rills went out to help the Drahvin's, finding one of them injured.  However, as they started to give first aid, Maaga turned up and fired on the Rill's chasing them off.  They backed off, but saw Maaga shoot her own solider and blame the Rill's for it.  Ever since, they have been trying to convince the Drahvin's that they mean no harm, but the warrior women just keep attacking them.

When Vicki asks why the Rill's don't show themselves, they explain that their appearance is too hideous for humanoids to look upon, and besides, they need to stay in that chamber as they survive by breathing Ammonia.  Vicki realises that the Doctor's well intended vandalism would actually kill the nice Rills, and rushes back, reaching him just in time.

Back at the Drahvin ship, Steven waits until his guard has fallen to sleep, and he takes her gun, knocking her unconscious when she stirs.  He sneaks out but runs into one of the Chumbleys (which he still things is hostile).  He races back into the ship, but finds that Maaga has sealed the airlock, trapping him between them and the Chumbley.  She gives Ian an ultimatum, surrender or he will have to take his chances with the Chumbley,or suffocate.  Slowly, the air begins to drain out of the airlock.

The Doctor gets to talk to the Rills and explains that they have less time than they thought before the world blows up.  The Rills panic, explaining that they've mined gas, but will not be able to process it in time.  Luckily, the Doctor says he can jump-start their ship with the help of the TARDIS.  At that moment, one of the Chumblies receives a signal from the one outside the Drahvin ship, explaining Steven's dilemma.  The Doctor and Vicki rush off with the Chumblies to save Steven before it's too late.

The Chumbley at the Drahvin ship begins to attack the airlock to release Steven, and succeeds, with more turning up to drop Ammonia bombs inside the ship itself.  Maaga and the Drahvin flee the ship, being captured by the Chumblies.  The Rill speak through the machines, explaining that they are a pacifist race, but because of their repeated threats towards others who would help them, they will be treated as hostile in return.  The Drahvin's and Maaga are ordered to get back into their ship, and if they're ever seen outside it again, they will be shot.  Maaga typically blames her mindless soldiers for this predicament and from her new confinement, begins making a new plan to capture the Rill ship.

The Doctor meanwhile puts the finishing touches to the Rill ship and goes off to get the jump cables with Vicki, leaving Steven to recover in the Rill ship.  Whilst there, Steven reveals that he's skeptical of the Rills pacifism.  He believes that if the Doctor's plan fails, the Rills will keep them prisoner, just like the Drahvins.  The Rills talk it through and explain that they really aren't interested in any violence if they can at all help it.  Steven apologises and the Doctor and Vicki return from the TARDIS.

As the equipment is being hooked up, the Rill ship is attacked by one of the Drahvin women (ordered by Maaga), but she is paraylzed before she can do any damage.  Outside, the rest of the Drahvin's and Maaga turn up, ready to make a fight of it, taking on the Chumblies.

The Doctor, Steven and Vicki are led through the Ammonia filled chamber of the Rills and are indeed shocked by their appearance.  They do however come to accept it as the Rills really are kind creatures.  They start the Rills ship and then are escourted out the back door, with the help of a Chumbley.

Outside, Maaga and the Drahvins decide to storm the ship, but they are just too late, having to settle for watching it in despair as it flies away into orbit and beyond.  They do however catch sight of the Doctor and his companions who are rushing back to the TARDIS, and they give chase.  Unlucky for them, the group reach their ship first and lock the Drahvin's out.  The TARDIS dematerialises, leaving Maaga and her warrior women to suffer the fate of the planets destruction.

On the TARDIS, the Doctor and co. sit back and reflect on how they've not had a chance to relax for a bit.  Vicki looks through the scanner and sees a far off planet.  She ponders what's happening on it.

On the planet itself, unknown to the TARDIS crew, an astronaut awakens in the depths of a jungle, with only one thing on his mind: the need to kill.....

Trivia

• This story was originally intended for Ian and Barbara to be part of it too.  As a result, a lot of Barbara's lines were given to Steven, and Peter Purves has since voiced his displeasure at how it made his character sound a bit too effeminate and at odds with the other stories.  Sure enough, this seems plausible.  If it were Jamie McCrimmon encountering the Drahvin's, he'd have been the first to put his hand up to remain prisoner!

• If Steven was meant to be Barbara, then the Drahvin's were meant to be men.  Verity saw the possibility of switching the genders, and suddenly, every dad who ever saw the TV advert tuned in the following week!

• A lot of the sound effects were recycled for this show.  The incidental music is from the Web Planet, the doors to the Drahvin's ship are knicked off the Daleks, as is the sound of the Rill's ship (although that effect is played backwards - not that it makes much difference).

What worked

• It is nice to see a female villain for once, and I'll give her credit, she does a good job of not comprehending the possibility of friendship with the Rill's and sounding desperate when she says it's us or them

• Although the Rills look similar to sandy the Sand Beast (see The Rescue), there is something  quite creepy about them.  It maybe their size, or it maybe the tusks and googly eyes, but there's something there.

• Even by this stage, Steven seems to be fitting in well with the Doctor and Vicki, having lots of banter between them, and even having valid viewpoints that the Doctor doesn't simply dismiss as nonsense.

• The decision to make the Rills stay behind the door adds suspense and mystery to their hideous appearance

• When the Rills speak, they sound an awful lot like Morbius (see the Brain of Morbius).  I thought the Rills were good guys?!

• The flashback scene from the Rill's perspective was really good

What didn't work

• The Chumblies.  Apart from having a name as childish and stupid as the term "Muggles" (sorry Harry Potter fans, but those stories were also created for kids, and there's no denying it), they are reasonably small and squashy, which gives them about as much of a threatening stature as a Quark (see The Dominators).

• Whilst we're on the subject, the sound they make, gives them the same role as the Zarbi, just in robot form.  They  run around and do their masters bidding with farts and whistles galore, and we're subjected to trying to figure out what the hell it is that they're trying to do.  At least this story was wiped, so the audio CD cuts down on the length of the scene and just explains it.

• Ok, so you're telling me that the Drahvin's mortal enemy stopped by to let them know that the planet they're all stranded on will blow up two weeks from now.  Did Douglas Adams write this under a pen name?!  I know it's a story cooked up by Maaga, but blummin' heck, why did she ever think they would just accept that as read?

• The Rill spaceship is a series of pipes and screens, but between each of these, there are massive gaps.  How on earth would it survive space travel?

• The Drahvin's act more like robots than people.

• Why did they decide to trap Steven between a Chumbley and Maaga, when we already know the Chumblies are friends?  It does still work, when we put ourselves in Steven's shoes, but seems a bit redundant

• I reckon half of episode 4 is full of exposition and Steven asking questions.  Even if his lines are Barabara's, I can't recall her throwing out that many queries.

Overall Feelings

in a lot of ways, Galaxy 4 feels like the Sensorite's, only done better in some ways and given whole new problems in others.  The production team don't seem to have got the mystery angle right, with the Chumblies looking more cute than threatening, but once you start getting to the point where you can poke holes in Maaga's obvious lies, then things cheerfully pick up.

Maaga does a good show of being unashamedly evil, a novel concept when most other baddies are content to skulk around in the shadows for ages before having a confrontation with the Doctor.  Here she is from episode 1 announcing to everyone that only the Rill's death will do.  What lets her down are the bits where she has to address the camera directly in episode 3, and where she always threatens the Drahvin soldiers and then doesn't bloody do anything.  Her hollow threats are about as effective as a bad parent's!

The Rill ship looks bizzare and pointless, but it makes up for it with appearance of the Rills themselves.  Episode 3 gives some awesome scenes between the Rills and Vicki, and the airlock dilemma gives you some good suspense, especially with the injured Drahvin.

I would love to say that this is one of the best Hartnell stories made, but it is spoiled by the obvious  holes in Maaga's story, the insistence for lots of exposition and Rill voice overacting, and the head scratching dilemma of why the planet is going to blow up and how do they know this.  And I wish the Chumblies would pipe down too...

Rating

7 out of 10

Great story but with poor explanation as to why some things are happening, and the dialogue is wooden in places

Rewatchability Factor

8 out of 10

Watch this if you liked...

• The Web Planet

• The Sensorites

• Enemy Mine

Consulting the Matrix

How do you think the Rills and Drahvin's held up on screen?  Would you have been happy to see either of them in the new series?

The Time Meddler

4 episodes
Aired between 3rd July 1965 and 24th July 1965

Written by Dennis Spooner
Produced by Verity Lambert
Directed by Douglas Camfield

Synopsis

Vicki is sighing and moping about the console room, saying how she will miss Ian and Barbara.  The Doctor agrees, and comforts her, offering to take Vicki home too if she wants, but she declines.

They hear a noise coming from the living quarters.  Vicki assumes one of the Daleks survived, but it turns out to be a bruised and battered Steven Taylor who managed to find the TARDIS whilst it was on Mechanus (see The Chase).  Steven enters the console room and passes out.

The Doctor and Vicki nurse Steven back to consciousness and explain to him that he's now on a time machine.  Steven is skeptical to say the least, which winds Vicki up, but the Doctor takes it all in his stride, confident that Steven will be shown the truth when they arrive at their next destination.

The TARDIS arrives on a rocky shore, and a local monk observes its arrival with great astonishment.

Steven cleans himself up, and the group exit the TARDIS for a look round.  Soon enough, the Doctor finds an old Viking helmet and presents it to Steven, who promptly dismisses it as part of a child's costume.

The group decide to explore a set of nearby cliffs, but the Doctor decides to take the long and easy way around.  Vicki reluctantly tackles the heights of the cliffs with Stephen.

Once they're gone, the monk turns up and inspects the TARDIS, trying the door only to find it locked. The monk curiously checks his wrist, to find it bare.

The Doctor finds his way to a nearby village where he starts poking around in the houses only to be pinned to the wall by a quarterstaff.

Meanwhile, the monk makes his way back up the cliff to his monastery,  Seconds after he enters the building, Gregorian chants begin to sidle out of the window.

Back on the beach, two of the villagers peer down the cliff face.  The first villager explains that he saw a strange box there, but the tide's come in and obviously smashed it apart against the rocks.

The Doctor is sat by a camp fire, where one of the village women gives him some mead and begs apology for assaulting him.  The Doctor uses his wits and bluffs information out of the woman, finding out that they've landed in 1066, and they are in Northumbria, where the Vikings have been raiding the local townsfolk, just before Harold and his army turns up to beat them.

As the woman goes off to get more food, the Doctor suddenly hears the singing distort and get slower before it returns to normal.  He discovers from the woman that the monks haven't been there long, and no one's seen much of the monks so far.  The Doctor gets excited and sets off to the monastery.

Meanwhile, Vicki and Steven have made it to the top of the cliff.  They err on the side of caution and hide when they hear someone approaching, but Steven is restless.  A man appears in the clearing, and the pair watch him as he finds something shiny on the floor.  Against Vicki's wishes, Steven casually steps out into the clearing to ask the man what he's found.  The man tries to run and Steven ends up fighting him, but gets a thick lip for his troubles as the man runs away.  Vicki is mad with Steven's brashness but Steven happily says he got what the man found and holds up a wrist watch, reassuring his faith that they haven't traveled in time.

At the monastery, the Doctor enters and looks around the place to find a grammar phone playing Gregorian chants.  He laughs to himself but his amusement is short lived as bars drop down behind him.  The monk arrives, laughing and jeering at the Doctor through the bars.

The monk moves the Doctor to a cell, where he spends the night.

Vicki and Steven have spent the night in the clearing, and as they awake to begin looking for the Doctor, they are ambushed by the men who went to find the TARDIS and are brought back to the village.  This seems to finally convince Steven that perhaps they did travel back in time after all.

Once at the village, some of the villagers want to kill Steven and Vicki for being Viking spies, but the woman in the village recounts how she met the Doctor last night.  Wulnoth, the headman of the village says they are just traveler's and lets them go.  Steven and Vicki are told that the Doctor went to the monastery and so they set off there.

Now morning has arrived, the monk goes back to the cliff side and observe the horizon with a pair of binoculars, watching with glee as a Viking long ship appears. The monk goes off again with a smile to make preparations.  As the longship lands, a small party of Vikings scale the cliff and go off to scout the area for food and to gauge the resistance of the populace.

Steven and Vicki arrive at the monastery, and ask the monk if he's seen the Doctor.  The monk says he hasn't but to appease Steven, agrees to check with the other members of his order.  There are no other members of his order, however.

Steven doesn't believe the monk and when he returns, Steven asks him to keep a lookout for the Doctor, questioning him as to if the monk can remember his description.  The monk smiles and recounts what the Doctor looks like before wishing them a good day and closing the door.  Steven is proud of himself as he never gave a description, so he's therefore certain the monk has him prisoner.  Vicki isn't too sure about it and thinks that it's too easy.  Regardless, they vow to sneak into the monastery after dark and rescue the Doctor.

Back in the village, the woman is assaulted by the Viking scout party and they make their getaway with food, leaving the woman catatonic.  When they find her, the villagers are in outrage, accusing Steven and Vicki of the crime.  The woman tells Wulnoth that it was the Vikings, and the men set off with swords in their hands to track them down.  It isn't long before they do indeed find the Vikings and they break out into a fight.  Most of the Vikings are killed, with a couple escaping, and only Wulnoth and one of the accusatory villagers surviving the attack, the latter sustaining a deep wound.
Wulnoth carries his fellow villager towards the monastery for help.

At the monastery, the monk prepares his Grammar phone and cell trap for the pair, and lies in hiding, but as Steven and Vicki enter, Wulnoth arrives and begins pounding on the door.

The monk is forced to answer the door and isn't there to spring the trap when Vicki and Steven find the Grammar phone.  The pair advance through the monastery until they find the Doctor's cell.  Steven picks the lock, but they soon find that the Doctor is gone, managing to escape through a secret passage, which they follow.

The monk manages to occupy Wulnoth long enough to check for the intruders, but finds that the cell is empty and that  Steven and Vicki are gone.  He looks worried, but is forced to tend to the aid of the villagers with some penicillin.  Wulnoth insists that the injured villager stays at the monastery.  The monk doesn't like it, but he relents.

The Doctor makes his way back to the village, where the woman tells him about their encounter with Steven, Vicki and the Vikings. The Doctor believes that the arrival of the vikings is somehow linked to the monk and decides that he needs to confront him again.

Despite following the secret passage, Steven and Vicki fail to find the Doctor.  They return to the TARDIS, thinking that he might have done the same.

Elsewhere in the woods, the remaining two Vikings argue about their next course of action, but eventually agree to lie low in the monastery until the invasion fleet arrives.

The monk studies his plans, which seem to include using an atomic cannon to blow up the Viking fleet.  All seems to be on schedule, but his work is interrupted once more by a knock at his door. When the monk answers it, he is surprised by the Doctor who points a stick in his back and pretends it's a rifle.  The Doctor says he wants some answers and leads the monk back inside the monastery.

Steven and Vicki arrive at the edge of the cliff to see the TARDIS has gone, and the tide is in.  Vicki is distraught at this, believing that either the Doctor has left without them, or that the TARDIS has been swept away.  Steven encourages her to take action by going back to the monastery to see if the Doctor hung around.  On their way, the pair find the monks atomic cannon in a nearby bush.

There's yet another knock at the monastery door just as the Doctor begins to interrogate the monk.  The Doctor insists that they answer the door together, but demands a set of robes so he cannot be shown as a bad guy by the monk.  As they get to the door, the Doctor commands the monk to stay back so he can do the talking, but as soon as he answers the door, Sven the Viking puts a sword under his nose.

The two Vikings order him to be quiet and take them in, which the Doctor has no choice but to do, whilst the monk escapes.

The Doctor is taken to his old cell and locked in, whilst Ulf the Viking goes to threaten the other monks.  He comes across an altar where he is knocked unconscious by the monk who pops out of hiding with a plank of wood.

The monk ties Ulf up and pops off to the village, convincing Wulnoth and the woman to get the villagers to light beacons on the cliffside in the next two or three days.  As he leaves, Wulnoth and the woman decide that it has something to do with a possible invasion.

Back at the monastery, Sven discovers a secret passageway lying open in the cell.  He checks it out, and the Doctor cleverly approaches from behind and knocks Sven unconscious (also with a bit of wood).  Satisfied, the Doctor goes off to find the  monk once more.

Steven and Vicki return to the monastery via the secret door and find the unconscious Sven.  They continue until they reach a large room containing a Saxon Sarcophagus, and see a large power cable sticking out from behind it.  Sure enough, there are two doors that open up and when Steven and Vicki climb inside, they find that it's another TARDIS!

The monk returns to the monastey and gloats to Ulf, saying that the beacons will attract the Vikings, but is confronted by a sword wielding Doctor once more.

Under the Doctor's urging, the monk reveals that his plan was to draw the Vikings in close and then destroy them with the atomic cannon so that Harold would win the battle of Hastings.

The Doctor insists that the monk takes him to his time machine, which is disguised as the Sarcophagus, where they meet up with Vicki and Steven.   They ask the monk why he'd want to meddle with history, and he makes it obvious that he's doing it for fun, wanting to help get jet aircraft by the 1300's and keep Harold on the throne because he thinks he'd be a good king.

The Doctor admits that the monk comes from the same planet as him, but fifty years into the future. They compare the monks "Mark 4" machine to the Doctors and joke about how at least the chameleon circuit works in this one.  All this talk of the TARDIS reminds Vicki about the fate of their own and she tells the Doctor that theirs has washed out to sea.  The Doctor laughs and says that it won't be moved by the tide, it's simply submerged.

Whilst they are discussing all this, the monk seizes his chance to escape, but as soon as he leaves the TARDIS, he is captured by Ulf and Sven who have been revived.  The monk tells them that they should be attacking the Doctor and his friends, putting the blame on them.  The Vikings take no chances and tie up the Doctor, Vicki and Steven.

The injured villager witnesses the monks treachery and rushes back to the village to warn them.  The villagers are already up in arms about the beacons and this just makes them certain that the monk is a Viking spy.  

The villagers run off towards the monastery to take care of the threat.

The Vikings agree to help the monk set beacon fires for the invasion and start carrying a box of fireworks with them to the cliff.  They are met by the angry mob of villagers who begin chasing them around the monastery Benny Hill style.  

Lucky for the TARDIS crew, the woman from the village turns up and frees them.  The Doctor thanks her and proceeds to disable the monk's TARDIS by removing the dimensional stabilizer.  

He leaves a note for the monk and together he, Steven and Vicki head off back to their own TARDIS.

The monk meanwhile deceives the Vikings, leaving them to be killed whilst he gets away.  He rushes back to the monastery, giving up on his plan and intending to leave.  He finds the Doctor's note which says that he's stranded the monk there, and that he may decide to come back at some point and return the dimensional stabilizer.  Sure enough, when the monk looks inside the Sarcophagus, he finds that the TARDIS' internal dimensions have shrunk to be in line with its outside dimensions.  

The once arrogant monk sits in despair, for now, he's stranded in 1066.

Trivia

• If you don't count the Doctor himself, this is the first story where an alien or anachronistic presence is the cause behind historical events, or the changing of them.  By the end of the first Doctor's reign, this type of story will be very much the standard for historical's.

• Once again, William Hartnell takes a holiday.  This time missing episode 2 by being in a prison cell.

• This is one of the first occasions where we get true continuity issues.  Whilst David Whittaker was script editor, the rule was that no amount of meddling could change history.  This fit with Sidney Newman's format that historical episodes should be educational.  Once Dennis Spooner took over, all that changed.  In this story, not only can history be changed, but we also see that the TARDIS is more than something the Doctor made up in his shed.  

What worked

• When pointing to the Viking helmet, in response to Stephens dismissal of it.  "What do you think it is, a space helmet for a cow?"   Priceless!

• When the Doctor is exploring the monastery, it does give you a bit of an eerie feeling.

• To say that this was all studio work, the woodland sets were pretty darn good

• The big reveal at the end of episode 3.

• It's great to see that a lot of the Time Lord history wasn't contradicted here.  Things are ellusive and questions go unanswered, like who it is that came up with the law about changing history, or whether the monks TARDIS is a better model than the Doctor's.

• The bit where the monk sells out the Vikings to the angry mob is a bit ruthless and shows there's more to this bumbling monk than meets the eye

What didn't work

• The prison the Doctor finds himself in at the end of episode 1 - what, the monk just happens to place bars over all his doorways in case people enter uninvited?

• Why is there a cell in a monastery.  It could have been another room, but why is there a bed in it and a lock on the door?

• Sven the viking sounds like he may as well come from Kensington

• The only way Steven can know what's going off is for Vicki to give all the exposition, but unless she's been taught off screen, how does she know all about dematerialisation and the such?

• Who do Steven and Vicki search for a secret door in a cell that's already unlocked?

• Even if the monk is stranded, the Doctor never did anything with the Atomic Cannon.  He could still change history.

Overall Feelings

On the surface of it, the Time Meddler is tedious.  There's lots of hanging around and making conversation with villagers, and astonishingly quick day and night sequences that progress for no reason at all.  Indeed, until the end of episode 3, we're forced to watch all the shenanigan's that were present in stories like the Reign of Terror, but with the disadvantage of not having anyone of historical importance to hook us in.  Until that moment, you would be forgiven in saying that it's quite boring.  But if you feel that way, you may not have been listening to what's been said before.

To get the most out of this story, you have to go back to the advice I gave you in the Unearthly Child.  You have to watch this as if only two years of Doctor Who are in existence.  If you do, then the allure and mystery of why a grammar phone is in a monastery in 1066 becomes more interesting, and the monks TARDIS becomes a really big deal, just like it was for people back in 1965.

Having said all of that, this isn't the most intellectual story out there.  It explores things that we as  a viewer would no doubt consider if we had access to a time machine, e.g. using compound interest to make a fortune.  It takes the concept of the Space museum showing off all sorts of Artifacts and pondering the effects of messing about with time, and combines it with the farcical nature of the Romans, who better then than Peter Butterworth to play the main bad guy?

Rating

6 out of 10

Interesting concepts and a good introduction to the Time Lord element, but it takes a while for the story to get into gear.

Rewatchability Factor

4 out of 10

The story is a bit slow, made tedious by having to explain everything to Steven, who doesn't believe it anyway!

Watch this if you liked

• Mark of the Rani

• Terror of the Autons

• The Time Warrior

Consulting the Matrix

If you could introduce one piece of technology to an ancient race, what would it be?